Using app to fix potholes

Residents can now see, click and fix potholes, downed trees and graffiti.

By Susan Parkou Weinstein

Wicked Local

By Susan Parkou Weinstein

Posted Jul. 9, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 9, 2013 at 9:20 AM

By Susan Parkou Weinstein

Posted Jul. 9, 2013 at 12:01 AM
Updated Jul 9, 2013 at 9:20 AM

Easton

» Social News

Residents can now see, click and fix potholes, downed trees and graffiti.

Using the application "Commonwealth Connect," they can report these problems on their smart phones or computers and directly to the town.

"This app allows residents to connect with the town and see their community improving thanks to their input in real time," Town Administrator David Colton said.

The program was developed by Boston Citizens Connect and has expanded through funding from a Commonwealth Innovation Challenge grant to 54 cities and towns.

The town ran a soft launch of the application on the government website in March and received more than 60 reports.

To use Commonwealth Connect, residents with smart phones download the app, snap a photo of a problem and submit it. They get a tracking number for their case and can see when their issue is resolved.

The device uses GPS data to locate problems community by community.

"The best thing about this is that it’s completely free," Connor Read, Easton’s citizen business advocate, said.

After three years, the town can continue to contract with the vendor "seeclickfix" directly, he said.

Selectman Dottie Fulginiti said the app makes the local officials accountable for repairing a problem once it has been reported.

"I think it’s a great initiative for the town to take," she said.

Since its early release, more than 4,000 service requests have been submitted in 40 different participating cities and towns, more than 1,300 issues have been reported by residents via the mobile app, and nearly 3,400 service requests have been completed. The mobile app works on both iPhones and Android phones.